Manningham Street Watch: Teens escape injury in shopping centre mugging

Two young girls and a boy were robbed by a group of older teenagers at Westfield Doncaster, with one flashing a knife in his backpack. That incident leads this week’s crime and traffic report from around Manningham.

The older youths showed a knife to the teens before stealing $20.

Three teens escaped injury but were short $20 when a group of youths mugged them at Westfield Doncaster.

The victims, two girls aged 13 and 12 and a 13-year-old boy, told police they were in the food court on June 7 at 1.40pm when they noticed the five youths, who were believed to be aged between 15 and 20, staring at them.

The three, from Templestowe, Bulleen and Eltham, became uncomfortable and decided to leave only to be confronted by the bigger group.

One of the offenders opened a backpack, showing the victims that it contained a knife.

The offenders stole $20 from the victims who fled the scene and reported the incident to Westfield security and police.

In other local crime news:

DONCASTER EAST

The Victoria Police Muslim Association recently hosted its annual Iftar dinner in Manningham. In partnership with Benevolence Australia and to commemorate Ramadan, the event was held at the Doncaster East Mosque on May 25. The event brought together 240 community members including Manningham youngsters.
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton who delivered the keynote address said: “Victoria Police is proud to have hosted Iftar dinners since 2005 to promote a harmonious and multi-faith society and strengthen relationships with the Muslim community.”

Manningham police Inspector Craig Pearson and Doncaster East Mosque vice chairman Amad Kazi at the annual dinner.

MORE: POLICE HUNT FAILED TEMPLESTOWE ROBBERS

DONCASTER EAST MAN FLEES ATTEMPTED CARJACKING

COPS LOOK FOR FUEL BANDITS IN STOLEN VAN

PARK ORCHARDS

A 72-year-old Healesville woman was taken to Maroondah Hospital with minor chest injuries following a car crash in Park Orchards. The woman was driving along Stintons Rd at 7.40am on June 12 when her Kia sedan ran off the road and into a tree.
Sgt Egan said she was believed to be suffering from medical issues and police would request a licence review.

MANNINGHAM

Manningham was free of serious traffic incidents over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend. Sgt Egan said there were 214 offences detected across the Nunawading highway patrol division but Manningham motorists “behaved themselves”. “Luckily for Manningham the weekend was fatality free and so we’d like to thank those drivers for doing the right thing,” he said.

MANNINGHAM

Eastern region police officers are investigating a series of street robberies that have happened in and around the south eastern and eastern suburbs in recent months. Police are seeing victims of various ages, ranging from early 20s to early 50s. Police believe the offending is opportunistic, and no specific group was being targeted. Police have made a number of arrests in relation to these offences and the investigation remains ongoing with more arrests likely to follow.

MANNINGHAM

Crime Stoppers has set up a section of its website to help witnesses of crime committed on public transport tell police what they saw. Leave an anonymous tip here.